Paper
Saturday, July 24, 2004
This presentation is part of : Evidence-Based Practice
Impact of Conversion to Powder-Free Gloves on Operating Room Personnel
Denise Korniewicz, DNSc, School of Nursing, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, USA, Nantiya Chookaew, MSN, RN, University of Maryland Baltimore, Baltimore, MD, USA, Jeanine Brown, MSN, School of Nursing, University of Maryaland, Baltimore, MD, USA, Nichol Bookhamer, BSN, School of Nursing, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, USA, Kim Mudd, MSN, Dept. of pediatrics, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, USA, and Mary Elizabeth Bollinger, DO, Medicine pediatric pulmonary & allergy, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Learning Objective #1: Understand the challenges of latex allergy in the operating room
Learning Objective #2: Analyze differences in clinical changes required by operating room staff
Background: Healthcare workers (HCWs) exposed to continual use of NRL powdered gloves have a higher likelihood of developing occupational allergy symptoms such as urticaria, angioedema, rhinitis, conjunctivitis, bronchospasm and anaphylaxisis. Operating room (OR) personnel are susceptible to NRL sensitization due to increased exposure from NRL gloves used.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of non-powdered NRL gloves and NRL sensitization among OR staff and to examine HCW satisfaction with non-powdered NRL surgical gloves.

Methods: All participants were given Surveys that included demographics data, self-reported symptoms with NRL exposure before and after the OR was converted to powder-free as well as other allergic symptoms, specifically NRL food related symptoms, glove use practices and glove satisfaction. Participants were asked to consent to a blood test for NRL specific IgE utilizing a Radioallergosorbent test.

Results: A total of 103 operating room HCWs were enrolled. After conversion to a non-powdered OR, there was a significant decrease in reported symptoms with NRL exposure (42% pre and 29% post, p = 0.0001). There was a 27% decrease in skin symptoms (88% pre vs.61% post, p =0.006), and a 12% decrease in upper respiratory symptoms (44% pre vs. to 32% post, p = 0.0001). HCWs rated non-powdered gloves at or above expectations for all parameters including quality, comfort, safety, performance, standardization, needle stick injuries and durability.

Conclusions: Based on our results, we would recommend the following: 1) removal of powdered NRL gloves from the operating room; 2) involvement of employees in the process of choosing gloves that will be well accepted by personnel; 3) counseling of HCWs with positive NRL serology or symptoms with NRL exposure to routinely use non-powdered non-NRL gloves; and 4) provision of routine training to OR personnel about NRL sensitivity and proper glove use.

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